Senator Theatre

This theatres website is www.senator.com

During the 50's the Senator Theatre seated 1139 people.

I love going to this theatre, although the seats are not easy on the butt.

It doe snot have a real balcony.... more or less a box area (2 of them) upstairs.

Matt Damon will be there this weekend to promote and premeire his new movie. Tickets are $150 for VIP!

Back in 1989, I think during the "1939 Film Festival", the owner unveiled plans for a full art deco restoration. I have been back to the theater when visiting Baltimore, but I havent seen any work done. Does anyone know what happened?

This theatre can be seen right before the "Trolley Car Accident" sequence in the movie "Avalon". The kids with the mothr come out of the theatre, and you get a great big shot of thr marquee as a trolley car careens out of control from down the side street (which is where I usually park).

They set up a fake set accorss the street that posed as a gas station.

There were plans to add two additional smaller theatres and a restaurant to the Senator but they never came to fruition. Instead, the owner of the Senator, Kiefaber, bought the Rotunda Twin Theatres located in a shopping center at nearby Guilford in the northern part of Baltimore city. A few years ago The Sun reported he had financial problems and was deep in a few months debt. But the Senator theatre is still here. Even though I live in Columbia I still enjoy going to the theatre. It's not stadium seats and 200 screens but it's still far more enjoyable than the multiplex theatres.

The Senator is featured on page 81 in Popcorn Palaces.

The Senator Theater designed by John J. Zink and built by E. Eyring at a cost of $250,000 for Durkee Enterprises, opened October 5, 1939.

Here is a photo of the Senator from the 80's:
http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/cfdocs/photopage.cfm?id=21078

Color photo at this link:
http://www.nationaltrust.org/11Most/images/large_main_theaters.jpg

Beautiful art deco design and the photo with King Kong above the marquee during the showing of that movie was a great promotional idea! "......is also considered one of the most endangered theaters in the country." Why is this?

And I believe the Senator is featured in Popcorn Palaces.

Also, love the curved marquee!

More photos:
http://www.kilduffs.com/SAA.html

The Senator Theatre was renovated back in 1999 in time for the release of Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace. It went through a full Art Deco style restoration of the Lobby and Theatre area, including the installation of a new sound system and screen. It still plays first run movies and classic films from 35mm to 70mm and hosts premiers for films shot in Baltimore. The Senator still remains the best place in Baltimore and MD in my opinion to see movies and it's always the hot spot for Star Wars. As I've heard some of the money given to restore the theatre back in 1999 came from George Lucas himself.

Here is a night view of the Senator Theater.

This page has some interesting photos:
http://www.agilitynut.com/theatres/md.html

RE: "This theatre can be seen right before the "Trolley Car Accident" sequence in the movie "Avalon". The kids with the mothr come out of the theatre, and you get a great big shot of thr marquee as a trolley car careens out of control from down the side street (which is where I usually park)."

They set up a fake set accorss the street that posed as a gas station."

Mike, the streetcar accident in Avalon was filmed in two locations and made to appear that it was one. As you mention, the streetcar did come down Rosebank Avenue, next to the Senator and as it turned, it derailed and careened into the filling station across the street. Across the street was actually filmed in Canton area of Baltimore City on a set built to look like a filling station. The streetcar was actually a 1:1 mockup of one of the streetcars at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum (www.baltimorestreetcar.org) built by Levinson's production company. For the record, trolleys never travelled down the side street, but rather on York Road in front of the Senator on the #8 streetcar line. The City of Baltimore, in its infinite stupidity, refused to allow the closing of York Road to properly film the scene as it should have occured.

I was involved with both the Avalon and Liberty Heights (its sequel) filming

This is another night view of the Senator Theater.

We just drove 45 miles to see this year's best film, The Illusionist, at the Senator Theater rather than the local multiplex. Happy to report the Senator is alive and well, and is a great place for grown-ups or anyone else to enjoy a movie. Happy also to report there were plenty of moviegoers at the normally slow 5:30 show, lots more going in for the 8:00 PM.

We cheat ourselves so much by allowing trash-atmosphere multiplexes, with their video games and awful surroundings to be the place where we see our movies.

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1989

Senator Theatre (added 1989 - Building - #89001153)
5904--5906 York Rd., Baltimore (Independent City)
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Zink,John J., Et al.
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Specialty Store, Theater

Please Help Save Her.
The Senator Theater is to be sold at a foreclosure auction Feb. 21.
She is a wonderful, magnificent beauty that deserves to live on. Many of us have sworn off multiplexes in her favor.

The story was just posted in the Baltimore Sun newspaper on 2-6-07.

The Senator's owner, acknowledged yesterday that the theater owes $90,000 on a $1.2 million mortgage.

Please visit www.Senator.com for more info.

Really a nice looking building! I almost like the facade on this one as much as the Norwalk Theatre in Ohio. Love the curved marquee. Really nice! Believe it or not the only thing I DON'T like is the name. One solution would be to remove the S and the R and you would have ENATO. Now THAT sounds much better. Yet I do have my reservations about altering a piece of history.

So they almost have this building paid off then, huh? Curious to see what this one will sell for.

Another curious feature is the two box seats as opposed to a balcony. Why only two? I would figure you should be able to get more up there unless they use that area for office and storage. Pretty cool idea though.

Geo

not almost paid off ..................they are behind $90.000. on a million dollar mortgage...........

If this theater is sold, they should make it a stage theater ala Radio City Music Hall!!!

This is more than another single screen theatre.

There are slabs on the sidewalk with pictures and signatures from tall the movies that premeried here.

You can see the theatre in the Trolley crash seen in the movie Avalon.

Speaking of, Barry Levinson always screens here as he is from Baltimore.

We should NOT lose this place!

Barry.. can you help!?

Here is a recent photo of the Senator Theater.

Donations are now being accepted in campaign to save historic Senator Theatre, in Baltimore, MD.

If you love this historic theatre as much as I do, please consider helping out. Please e-mail friends and neighbors to join the cause.
Donations to the theatre (Limelight Inc) can be made through Pay Pal, via the Senator’s website http://www.senator.com/

S.O.S.
ONLY DAYS REMAIN TO
"SAVE OUR SENATOR!"
1939 - 200?

Although the Senator Theatre's structure is old, the technology employed inside is state-of-the art. The combination results in one of the most astounding movie going experiences on America's East Coast.

The Senator Theater was completely restored several years ago. The 900 seat Senator Theatre now boasts a massive 40 ft Hurley screen, state of the art projection systems, and Dolby Digital surround sound. In July of 2003, it became the first venue to complete the "Historic Cinema Certification Program" offered by THX Ltd. The sound system was certified by THX itself.

Today, the Senator Theatre mainly showcases first run movies. It is also able to screen classic films in 35mm or 70mm.

The snack bar offers traditional movie house snacks, and real, freshly popped, hot buttered popcorn.

The August, 5, 2005 edition of Entertainment Weekly Magazine named the Senator one of " 10 Theaters doing it right... movie houses that make watching films a dream".

On September 29th, 2003, USA Today named the Senator Theatre in Baltimore as #4 in a nationwide list of "Places to see a classic cinema".

This theatre is truly a gem and she deserves to live on.

This link has recent day and night photos of the Senator Theater. Click each photo to expand it.

This theatre is also featured in an episode fom the 7th season of the TV series "Homicide, Life On The Street" On the show, a patron is found dead in the Senator.The investigation reveals that the murdered man was a regular at the theatre, who liked to yell back at the screen, telling how the movies end. (Rosebud was a sled. he had it when he was a kid) The theatre manager tries to sedate him into being quiet with barbituate flavored popcorn butter. When this doesn't work, he ups the dosage, and the patron dies. Had this fictional theatre manager been tried by a jury of CT members I am sure he would have been acquitted.

Here is another recent photo of the Senator Theater.

The THX Historic thing never went to fruition at the Senator

All,
Thank you to all who donated to help save the Senator from auction. The goal was to preserve the Senator as the last single screen, first run movie house in the region.

This week, the Baltimore's Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) "voted unanimously... to recommend to the City Council that the 67-year-old Art Deco building be designated a landmark.

The commission voted also to write a letter to the City Council urging it to support the Senator's continued existence as a first-run movie theater. The Senator is the last single-screen movie house in Baltimore, which once had more than 175."

Hopefully, the Landmark status will prove beneficial for the Senator, by opening it up for grants to offset maintainence costs of the historical structure.

The theatre also plans to improve its business position by including creative and unique programming offerings. There are many interesting propositions already posted to the Senator Theatre's on-line Forum (www.Senator.com).

Combined with the Landmark status, fans of the theatre hope that it can overcome the challenges brought on by multiplexes and local art-movie houses, to remain a premier first-run theatre.

The full text of a Baltimore Sun article on the CHAP hearing is available at:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/bal-md.to.senator06mar06,0,7249540.story?coll=bal-artslife-movies

love to know how this theater did with '300"

This week, for a few more days, the Senator is featuring the restored 1964 epic "Becket"

I'd love to see more classic films shown at this classic, and class act Art Deco gem!

longislandmovies-the Senator had a successful four week run of "300",from March 9 to April 5, then moved it to it's sister theatre-the Rotunda Cinematheque, for two more weeks. This is an awesome theatre, and the last of it's kind for our area here in Baltimore- a city that only possesses two other movie theaters in it's central limits- the above mentioned Rotunda and the Charles.

Good to hear ...made a donation for there fundraiser because it look so great......so few left......

question: the Senator can playbak 35mm and 70mm but does not have a DLP system, correct?

Here is a recent close-up view of the Senator Theater.

The Senator can indeed project in 35 or 70mm. It can also project in 16mm if required. As to DLP projection, the Senator does have a DLP projector but not a DCinema one at this time.

On the big films they play do they ever sell out,.

Am glad to see that Master Jedi projectionist Steve Guttag has popped up here. As for longislandmovies' question above, the first time I went to the Senator, for the run of the 70mm restored "Vertigo", the Saturday afternoon matinee was as close to sell-out as possible.

Longisland, the Senator has sold out their entire 900 seats for several shows that I know of this summer, primarily the opening midnight shows of such fare as the recent Spiderman 3 and Harry Potter.

A DCinema installation would make this gem even better, but with the recent financial woes, the expenses would be hard to come by and the owner has said in forums that with today's 2K technical standards, they don't hold up well to regular film. The digital vs. film forums have been quite vocal especially during the last two Star Wars' prequel releases.

The nice thing about the Senator is that this summer's Fantastic Four sequel and Die Hard, they were able to get a special EK print for their respective engagements. If memory serves me correctly, they also had select vision EK prints for the Star Wars' prequels, too. I suspect they have good relations with the 20th Century Fox folks.

The Senator has been fortunate to book the summer 07 event films, which I've seen here. I hope they did well and believe they did. Now, if only they would invest some money into replacing those awful seats....

We drove 40 miles each way to enjoy seeing a movie again at a real movie theatre. It was well worth the effort. The SENATOR is an excellent and well managed theatre, and there's nothing wrong with the seats. Don't be put-off by the prior posting's negative comment -- because it just isn't true.

Too bad 3:10 TO YUMA went from excellence (1 1/2 hrs) to stupid (final 20 minutes). We enjoyed it thoroughly until.....

Why is they runing a ad for landmark theaters on there web site?

Hmmm. Strange bedfellows, indeed. But from reading past posts and articles with comments from Mr. Kliefaber, it seems he is welcoming Landmark. Perhaps its because they will break the clearance power that the Charles was exerting over the Senator.

Interesting they are showing a 35mm print of Ridley Scott's final cut of Blade Runner. Maybe worth a viewing to compare to the Ziegfeld's practically perfect digital projection version.

Today's email also announces that Coming Soon will be a 70mm print of Lawrence of Arabia. Blade Runner, the Final Cut is also coming. Currently playing is American Gangster.

The Senator is now playing Lawrence of Arabia in 70mm DTS.

SG

Emailed arrived from Senator today. Starting today (Tuesday) will be shown an original IB Technicolor, Road Show print, with a dynamic four-track "mag" stereo soundtrack of Fiddler on the Roof from a private collector. I don't know if 35 or 70mm.

35mm.

If it's IB Technicolor, it would have to be a 35mm print as Technicolor never made 70mm IB prints. Should be nice if it's in good shape, wish I lived closer.

It's the 181 minute version, not the 1979 Dolby Stereo 149 minute version.

I JUST GOT AN EMAIL FROM THE THEATER WITH ALL THERE SHOWS LINED OUT///

I don't know what that was about but they DID play Fiddler in 35mm 4-track and it was an IB Tech print (good color). The sound was quite impressive for its age. The film played its full week (or slightly longer since it started on a Tuesday).

Blade Runner is the current attraction with the last day on Thursday.

SG

I hope that this link works. It is a narrated slide show of some Baltimore theaters including the Senator.

Here is a March 2008 photo.

This photo is more recent. and here is the Senator from another angle.

WHAT A GREAT STAFF! I had the pleasure of visiting this theater last week while on vacation. We explained that I was a theater geek from California and I was allowed the run of the place with my camera. Everyone was wonderful! Nick, who was taking tickets, showed me to the projection booth where the projectionist was playing with two dogs and then a crying room. There is a fireplace in the men's lounge! From what I understand the theater will undergo some renovation with the stage moved forward, a liquor license will be sought for a bar to be installed and a cafe next door. The Senator will still run film and have live shows as well. There was also an article about it in the local paper. Great folks there.

there's a crying room ? I thought the Senator enforced a "no one under 5 years old admission". I should go back at some point in the Summer, I saw "Immortal Beloved" in glorious Sony Dynamic Digital Sound - and it was an extremely impressive presentation.

nevermind I should always remember to read the top intro of the theatre at the top of the webpage- there's a "soundproof nursey" - ohhhh (my bad)

photos (not mine) of the wonderful Rotunda LOBBY of the historic Senator Theatre:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eskimodane/248690139/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/patgavin/2460344513/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maliavale/336513921/

and here http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/3377.html

Nice pictures. The Summer '07 blockbuster movie season got off to a rousing start with the Senator's booking of the latest Indiana Jones movie. Usually my friend and I go to the midnight show that starts the engagement but missed it to go Sat instead. I called beforehand and was assured that there was enough tickets for the 7pm Sat show. By the time, I dropped my friend off to get tickets, they sold out 3 people ahead of him! The next day I had two graduations to go to and wasn't looking forward to getting home around 2 am but ended up getting tickets to the last show at 10:45pm. As usual, the presentation was top notch with the intro by Tom Kliefaber, its owner. The only detractions were some noticeable scratches in the final act and at the very, very end of the reel where there was this loud SCREEEEEEEEECH! I would say I almost missed digital, but for the fact the Senator was able to secure a Kodak Select Vision Premier print of the movie for this engagement.

I had noticed they had architect renderings of some remodeling. Unfortunately, the usher that was there was telling us to go as I suppose he and the rest of the crew wanted to clean up and go home.
Based on my brief view of the sketching, there will be some kind of bar to the right of the theater, with seating for about 40 or so. I hope they'll have some movie memorabilia, Senator-related, too to sell with some gourmet goods and drinks. If this is the case, then this would mean they'll finally be taking credit cards, too. Perhaps advance ticketing will finally come so I won't have to endure a rare, but annoying sell out to a preferred show time.

The next time I go, I want to look at the drawings again to see what is happening upstairs. Now, they have two 40 seat areas for those who want to have private parties and such. This particular evening, they had a group who had a Indiana Jones-themed party, which looked like a lot of fun. I'm not 100% sure but it seems they will have a separate screening room. Senator 2 anyone?

Video of The Dark Knight premiere at the Senator
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=39279034

It seems that the gremlins who remove posts from these pages, especially this one, are at it again!

I think it started from a post to a fund raiser at the Landmark Theater for Quantum of Solace. Then someone else objected and it started from there. I was in it on the second round then there were four more entries but by the time I got to here, they were all gone.

Great-looking theatre!! Love the round marquee on the outside, which makes for a distinguished look.

Must be some important people at the SENATOR as the news thread has been removed from CINEMA TREASURES home page.33 COMENTS AND 389 VIEWS HAVE GONE ON SUNDAY .....................

I think feathers have been ruffled.

Wow..All that was said pros and cons of nom-for profit.Now itt looks like some kind of cover up..............

Even if the comments "strayed" or feathers were ruffled, it was a news thread and shouldn't be removed. If any of the comments were insulting or violated site policy, those comments could have been removed but not the entire thread. Hopefully it was just a website glitch.

No need for the conspiracy theories. Someone who posted a comment requested that it be removed. Through a miscommunication, the entire post was removed, rather than just the comment. I have removed the requested comment and restored the post.

The Senator never called or requested anything be removed or changed.

When these issues arise, it is always best to wait and see what the resolution is. There isn't always a conspiracy, a cover up, or a gremlin afoot.

Ross

Is that all it was? I was just about to ask Oliver Stone if he wanted to make a movie about this. :)

Thanks for clearing up the mystery.

Here is an article from December 31, 2008.

Hi Folks — I just found you.

We've launched a discussion group on Google for anyone interested in a sustainable future for the Senator Theatre — whether your interests are in movies or architectural history, community development, art deco, neon, non-profits, performance or music or whatever. Please join us, and tell your friends about our new group ...

http://groups.google.com/group/friends-of-the-senator-theatre

We also run a page on Facebook, which is one of multiple FB groups dedicated to the future of the Senator Theatre. Please become a fan of our Facebook page ...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baltimore-MD/Friends-of-the-Senator-Movie-Theatre/90672570720

Thank you,
Richard_BaltoCo
Friends of the Senator Movie Theatre

I'm not familiar with Baltimore, but I do know that the Senator in not "Downtown". What is the general area like around the Senator. Is it a neighborhood retail strip? Is it stable? Considered safe? Fair or not, my impression of Baltimore is that it is nice around Inner Harbor and Dicey virtually everywhere else. I hope I'm wrong because I do feel that the future of this country is in cities and why it is important to save buildings of our past like the Senator that we can use to create the cities of the future.

There is a retail center, not a 'strip', per se of an eclectic group of stores ranging from a gourmet grocery store to your typical Starbucks and a few restaurants (Thai, Pizza and I think an Irish karakoke bar). Last year, they opened up an extremely expensive gourmet restaurant that barely lasted the year. To me, it seemed to be all decor and pretty looking food.

Now, down about a block there is a bar, where I've seen riff raff hang out but I wouldn't consider the neighborhood "unsafe." When you're talking about any area, especially urban business centers, there will always be some element or risk of some crime, but its not the wild, wild west.

If you arrive early, I like to park closest to the theater so its easier to avoid the traffic of cars that park at the Staples.

Thanks JodarMovieFan, I've never been to Baltimore, but someday hope to make it there. As part of my visit I would love to see a film at The Senator.

I live near the Senator and will try to answer any questions that folks have. I think you can email me by clicking on my name, or via Facebook (Richard Tryzno Ellsberry) or via Twitter (@RichardTE).

Baltimore, MD, is an hour north of DC. It is an independent city, surrounded by Baltimore County, of which it is not a part. This results in chronic financial woes for the city.

Last week, Baltimore City offered to pay off the Senator's debt of $320k, if the theatre becomes a non-profit.

The theatre is in good shape, having be open continuously for nearly 70 years, and is located near Northern Parkway. The residential community is not considered dangerous. There are small retail shops and restaurants in the blocks adjacent, including a Staples. The area is now called Belvedere Square ...

http://www.BelvedereSquare.com

The largest restaurant is a Guinness pub called Ryan's Daughter.

I have launched a new Google group, called Friends of the Senator Theatre ...

http://groups.google.com/group/friends-of-the-senator-theatre

Our discussion group has questions about non-profit movie theatres.

1. Are there many non-profit cinemas, and how do we find out about them? Are there any near Baltimore? Is AFI/Silver near DC a non-profit?

2. Are many theatres moving toward digital projection? We have heard that a good digital projector will cost $40k.

Thank you,
Richard_BaltoCo

I live near the Senator and will try to answer any questions that folks have. I think you can email me by clicking on my name, or via Facebook (Richard Tryzno Ellsberry) or via Twitter (@RichardTE).

Baltimore, MD, is an hour north of DC. It is an independent city, surrounded by Baltimore County, of which it is not a part. This results in chronic financial woes for the city.

Last week, Baltimore City offered to pay off the Senator's debt of $320k, if the theatre becomes a non-profit.

The theatre is in good shape, having be open continuously for nearly 70 years, and is located near Northern Parkway. The residential community is not considered dangerous. There are small retail shops and restaurants in the blocks adjacent, including a Staples. The area is now called Belvedere Square ...

http://www.BelvedereSquare.com

The largest restaurant is a Guinness pub called Ryan's Daughter.

I have launched a new Google group, called Friends of the Senator Theatre ...

http://groups.google.com/group/friends-of-the-senator-theatre

Our discussion group has questions about non-profit movie theatres.

1. Are there many non-profit cinemas, and how do we find out about them? Are there any near Baltimore? Is AFI/Silver near DC a non-profit?

2. Are many theatres moving toward digital projection? We have heard that a good digital projector will cost $40k.

Thank you,
Richard_BaltoCo

The donation link is up again on the home page of the Senator's website. I suspect the place may be closing sooner than expected unless there is some cash infusion? No announcements as of yet even in the forums. I'm not donating unless there's some information being announced about an imminent closure, or that we know its future as a continuing operating movie theater is certain.

no I don't think the AFI/Silver is non-profit. The Avalon theatre in DC is a non-profit. Even though the trend is directed toward's digital projection, I think it's beneficial for theatres, like the AFI Silver that is equipped to playback 35mm, 70mm and DLP (or Sony 4K LCoS digital projection - which is essential for very large screen theatres)

one thing the Avalon did, as well as the AFI, was have people purchase a seat and their name placked onto the seat, I have one at the Avalon (that was a birthday gift), maybe something like that would be beneficial to the Senator and guaranteed a set amount per person who contributed to the Senator.

"For those of you on the Senator's email list, they've sent out the word that they are about to shut down and be auctioned off. I sent the news link to this site but it has yet to post. Now, it makes sense as to why they put up the donation link. Today, in an even stranger turn of events, they took down the donation link! Are they resigning themselves to the inevitability of closure and being sold?
posted by JodarMovieFan on Mar 12, 2009 am31 6:56am"

is the Senator really throwing the towell this quickly... that's a shame. Auctioning off seems rather severe, it's a shame there's no community support, such as the Avalon Theatre Project that was created here in the District in order to save that theatre.

Latest news on Senator shutting down.

Yesterday's press release from Senator.com & ClearPathManagement.com
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-11-2009/0004987022&EDATE=


This story is from today's BaltimoreSun.com ...
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-to.senator12mar12,0,5875675,print.story

What I'm gathering from the Balto Sun article is that the accelerated foreclosure process may be happening because of a potential buyer in the wings to get the theater at auction. This sounds more like one of those B-movie plots.

At least put up the donation link and reveal how much money is needed to avoid foreclosure. What about a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing also? I imagine that may be a 11th hour move if everything else fails.

When you say B-movie, I take it you're talking about Baltimore?

I have to write more soon, but a few folks I'm working with call ourselves Friends of the Senator Theatre (FoTS). We run a Facebook page, a Facebook group, a Google discussion group, and @SenatorTheatre accts on Twitter and Buzzable. We are trying to provide vehicles for all interested parties to communicate — thanks also to CinemaTreasures. There are still other Facebook and MySpace pages that don't identify themselves as FoTS. More links on all this soon.

There is a newly-forming entity called the Senator Community Trust, LLC. It is expected that FoTS (us) will admin web pages and discussion groups for the Trust. See initial pr here (02/25/09) ...

The Senator Community Trust, LLC

• http://www.siriusthoth.com/senator/sct_pr_1.pdf
• http://www.siriusthoth.com/senator/sct_pr_2.pdf

Monday evening, March 16, 2009 at 7 pm is a Public Town Hall Meeting at the Senator Theatre to discuss her future. Anyone near Baltimore (an hour north of Washington DC) is heartily welcome to attend (ask for Richard from the Friends-of group :). There's an e-vite on Facebook ...

• Monday's Public Town Hall Meeting at the Senator 7 pm
http://Facebook.com/event.php?eid=55091749419
Directions: http://www.Senator.com

The newly-forming Senator Community Trust will be there ...

• The Senator Community Trust, LLC
http://www.siriusthoth.com/senator/sct_pr_1.pdf
http://www.siriusthoth.com/senator/sct_pr_2.pdf

Friends of the Senator Theatre will be there. The informal Friends-of network admins these various web pages & blogs ...

• Friends of the Senator Theatre — Facebook page
http://Facebook.com/pages/FoTS/54785894919
http://Facebook.com/pages/FoTS/90672570720 (old)

• Friends of the Senator Theatre — Facebook group
http://Facebook.com/group.php?gid=39720373765

• Friends of the Senator Theatre — Google group
http://Googlegroups.com/group/Friends-of-the-Senator-Theatre

• Friends of the Senator Theatre on WordPress (Tom Harris)
http://FriendsOfTheSenatorTheatre.wordpress.com

• AstroGirl's Galaxy Guide (Laura Perkins)
http://AstroGirlGuides.blogspot.com

• @SenatorTheatre on Twitter.com & Buzzable.com
http://Twitter.com/SenatorTheatre
http://Buzzable.com/SenatorTheatre

There are still other pages dedicated to the Senator Theatre on Facebook & MySpace. And of course you're looking at the Senator Theatre page on CinemaTreasures.

The Senator's official website features a large e-mailing list for all to join and a discussion board ...

http://www.Senator.com

did anyone attend the Monday Town Meeting?

Hundreds of folks showed up for Monday's Town Hall Meeting. I believe that today the theatre is closed and that Sunday evening's show of Watchmen was the final first-run movie.

Best current info is probably available from the Senator Community Trust, LLC ...

http://www.theSenatorCommunityTrust.org

... in addition to other sites, blogs and forums listed above.

Our discussion group on Google has 55 members, including reps from the Senator Theatre, the City of Baltimore and the Senator Community Trust. It's somewhat chatty today if anyone would like to join in ...

http://groups.google.com/group/friends-of-the-senator-theatre

it's would be interesting to compare Senator Community Trust, to say The Avalon Theatre Project here in DC and see why and how the latter can currently raise over 1.25 Million dollars for planned future renovations and yet the Baltimore community is being less coroperative, where they burned by the last plea for donations, only to find out $900,000 was still owed?

Giles, I hear you. I run websites and I'm trying to get different parties talking to each other on our Google discussion group. The Senator Community Trust is collecting PayPal donations on its new website (www.theSenatorCommunityTrust.org). The public isn't sure what to do, the theatre is closed and local media are saying that an auction is imminent. The City of Baltimore also wants to help out, but it's broke like everybody else.

In the current panic, nobody seems to know who could end up with the Senator in coming weeks. As you point out, the public has not been fully informed in the past the state of things.

It's a stressful situation. I know that every one of these historic theatre transitions is painful and difficult, and the Senator is probably like many others. And it is an art deco gem, in good shape.

The Senator Community Trust, LLC, has just now posted their board members and information about their not-for-profit status, here ...

http://www.theSenatorCommunityTrust.org/aboutus.aspx

The Senator Theatre has stopped showing first-run movies ...

http://www.Senator.com

My informal group is called the Friends of the Senator Theatre, running Facebook pages and a Google discussion group for anyone interested ...

http://groups.google.com/group/friends-of-the-senator-theatre/topics

From today's BaltimoreSun.com ...

Senator Theatre owner Tom Kiefaber is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, as a way of buying time for the 70-year-old North Baltimore landmark and ensuring its fate isn't decided by something as arbitrary as an auctioneer's gavel.

"That's precisely the idea," said Sean Brescia, the owner of a management and promotion company who has been working with Kiefaber over the past several weeks to keep the theater from going into foreclosure. A bankruptcy filing, he said, would stave off the foreclosure auction, tentatively set for mid-April, and give potential buyers more time to raise money.

"We're aggressively evaluating our best options to buy time to reorganize interim operations and structure an acquisition that is in the best interests of the community and The Senator Theatre and its future," Kiefaber wrote in an email Wednesday. "It may be that a Chapter 11 filing is our best or only option for buying that time" ...

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/bal-senator-theatre-0319,0,6810306.story

personally I think the Rotunda's screenings of Shrek 2/Ice Age 2 shouldn't be "free" but "pay what you can" and not just expect people to donate as suggested on the Senator/Rotunda's website. One would hope they'd donate, but ... free is technically free.

back on a tech question, what movies where shown in 8-channel Sony Dynamic Digital Sound when the Senator had that system for a while, as I recall (since I saw these there):

- Sense and Sensibility
- Immortal Beloved

what others? I think

- Godzilla (remake) (didn't extra bass speakers were added for this engagement?)

it's too bad, the system came and went since that's what really drew me to make treks up to Baltimore from DC. It would have made sense to keep it since it used the five channel front speakers in 70mm prints. Who ever submitted the info to Wikipedia about the Senator missed this technical sound aspect.

Get the word out:

FORECLOSURE AUCTION For SENATOR THEATRE Set For APRIL 20
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/bal-senator-theatre-0323,0,6548157.story

Help! www.theSentorCommunityTrust.org

Correction:

Help! www.SenatorCommunityTrust.org

Correction:

Help! www.SenatorCommunityTrust.org

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/news/bal-rotunda-closed-0327,0,5584686.story

Rotunda Cinematheque won't reopen
Kiefaber to concentrate on saving the Senator Theatre

By Chris Kaltenbach | chris.kaltenbach@baltsun.com
2:47 PM EDT, March 27, 2009

The Rotunda Cinematheque will not be re-opening, as operator Tom Kiefaber focuses his attention on saving the troubled Senator theater.

"We've kept the Rotunda Cinematheque open as long as possible to provide quality entertainment to the North Baltimore community and for the loyal, dedicated staff who have fought to keep it operating in conjunction with The Senator theatre," Kiefaber said. "In this economy, it simply isn't supporting itself and we're unable to keep current with the utilities and overhead costs of operating the facility. We've made the tough decision to cease day-to-day operations at The Rotunda to focus our resources and energy on our efforts to reorganize The Senator Theatre under new ownership and management."

Sean Brescia, the owner of a management and promotion company who has been working with Kiefaber for weeks to keep the Senator from foreclosure, said the owners of the Rotunda Mall, New Jersey-based Hekemian & Co., had been told of Kiefaber's decision. Representatives from Hekemian could not be reached for comment. Last week, however, a Hekemian official said the company had no plans in the works should the Cinematheque shut down.

The twin-screen Cinematheque, which Kiefaber ran primarily as a showplace for movies that could no longer attract enough people to fill The Senator, showed its last movies Monday night.

Kiefaber, who is some $70,000 behind in mortgage payments on The Senator, had hoped to resume limited operations at the Rotunda, where he had been showing movies since December 2002.

Money raised through donations and rental of the Rotunda, he said, would help efforts to save The Senator, which is scheduled to be sold at a foreclosure auction April 20. Kiefaber and the Senator Community Trust, a group of area civic and business leaders, have been trying to raise enough money to forestall the auction long enough to find some private or non-profit concern willing to take over the 70-year-old North Baltimore landmark and ensure its continued operation, preferably as a community-based arts and education facility.

This is not the first time the Rotunda theaters, on 40th Street near Hampden, have gone dark. In March 2001, they shut down after the company that had been running them, Loews Corp., declared bankruptcy.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/news/bal-rotunda-closed-0327,0,5584686.story

This should (also) be posted to the Rotunda's page.

Perhaps this is premature, but the fact is this venue is no longer showing movies, dare we change the status to closed?

Sadly, the Senator is being foreclosed on. Sad, isn't it? I saw a Technicolor print of Fiddler on the Roof there, in 4-track mag[netic sound]. You don't get chances like that very often.

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1631677#

JodarMovieFan, today, I provided the changed status for the Rotunda, because the article says so. But, when the Senator ceased showing "Watchmen" the email stated there would be a final series, of classics. Let's wait and see.

And, today's Senator email announced This Weekend The Senator Has Scheduled Two Classic Films Presented With Rare Original "I.B.Technicolor" 35mm Prints
Cabaret (1972) and Horror of Dracula (1958)

Today's Senator email also announced:
We're opening up The Senator's back rooms!

Don't miss your chance to own a piece of Senator Theatre history

Starting this Friday, April 3rd @ 1pm, a wide variety of Senator Theatre
memorabilia, including: film posters, banners, t-shirts, standees,
film reels, press books, vintage projection equipment, marquee
letters, large marquee signs from past premieres and more,
will fill our lobby spaces for your perusal and purchase.

Thousands of these items will be placed on sale
in the next few weeks, lobby space permitting.

All sales final ~ cash or check only

This is a 2009 photo.

FLASH! City of Baltimore to buy the historic SENATOR THEATRE!

More details will be available shortly, but public radio stations are reporting this morning, locally and in DC, that the City of Baltimore is ready to pay off $1.2m to First Mariner Bank for the mortgage of the historic Senator Theatre.

News comes just 1 week before the scheduled public auction of the 1939 art deco picture palace. The city is seeking a long-term solution to keeping the beloved Senator alive as a movie theatre or performing arts center.

My girlfriend and I had a wonderful date there Saturday evening, with Jonathan Demme's 1984 Stop Making Sense, starring David Byrne and the Talking Heads -- with folks dancing in the aisles. During the past couple weeks, the Senator has been screening Technicolor prints of Charade, Horror of Dracula, Cabaret, plus classic cartoons and rock videos including the Grateful Dead at 11 pm on Saturday night.

Richard
Friends of the Senator Theatre
Baltimore

Baltimore City to purchase Senator Theatre's mortgage

http://baltimoresun.com/business/realestate/bal-md.senator12apr12,0,715511.story

City agrees to purchase historic theater's mortgage
By Liz F. Kay | liz.kay@baltsun.com
April 12, 2009

With little more than a week remaining before the auction of the historic Senator Theatre, Baltimore officials have agreed to purchase the mortgage on the property and either sell or lease it in the future.

The city would use $600,000 in cash already guaranteeing a loan to the theater toward approximately $950,000 for the mortgage, held by 1st Mariner Bank, and legal fees. In addition, Mayor Sheila Dixon will seek Board of Estimates approval within the next month to make up the difference with economic development bond funds approved for capital projects, said Deputy Mayor Andrew Frank.

"By purchasing the note, we can increase the odds that the theater will end up in the hands of someone who wants to run it as a theater or performing arts venue," he said.

A strategy group of city and state leaders had recommended earlier this month that the city foreclose on the property.

"It puts the city in the position of guaranteeing it stays some sort of entertainment venue," said Councilman Bill Henry, who represents the area surrounding the North Baltimore theater. He said he was "very, very happy" that the administration saw the value of taking control of the theater and is choosing to invest in this commercial corridor, which anchors Belvedere Square.

Under the terms of the agreement, the city would release proprietor Tom Kiefaber's home in Sparks, which is currently held as collateral. The city would also auction off another collateral property on Orkney Road, to the east of the theater, to offset the cost of the purchase.

In exchange, the Senator Limited Partnership would lift the stay on auctioning the Senator property in case it files for bankruptcy.

The city would then foreclose on the property and auction the theater. It would have to sell to anyone who bid the amount of the note, Frank said. "We can't say for sure no one will bid up to the amount of the mortgage," he said.

However, if no one does, the city would take control of the property and would develop a request for proposals for a new operator.

"We know there's a substantial amount of interest out there," Frank said. "With control of the property, we're confident we can find an end user who will add value down the road."

Noting the city's investments in Belvedere Square and the theater itself, Dixon stressed Saturday that the move was meant to safeguard money the city has spent.

"We're not writing a check," Dixon said. "We'll lose $600,000 if we don't do something. ... It's taking what we have, not losing that, and refocusing the mortgage."

Kiefaber supports the move, said spokesman Sean Brescia, who has been working with the owner and others to save the theater.

"We think that the best outcome is likely to come out of this process that the city can control and manage, versus the unknown of a bank auction," Brescia said.

He said he hopes the state Department of Housing and Community Development will also work with the Senator owner. Kiefaber owes the department about $680,000 for past loans, and it holds liens on his home and other properties.

"He is appreciative for the city's willingness to work with him on this and hopes the state will, too," Brescia said.

It's unclear how long the purchase and foreclosure process could take, Frank said.

"We would move as quickly as possible because we don't want the Senator to remain dark for longer than it has to," he said.

No longer screening first-run films, the theater is showing classic movies and selling memorabilia to defray expenses and pay volunteers staffing the site.

It's not clear which city agency would issue the request for proposals, but neighbors will have a chance to participate in the planning, Henry said.

http://baltimoresun.com/business/realestate/bal-md.senator12apr12,0,715511.story
BaltimoreSun.com

Here is a recent photo.

1985 photo of the Senator Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c20%2c3%2c216&catpageindex=10&ProductID=28058
1985 night phohttp://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c20%2c3%2c216&catpageindex=11&ProductID=28065to of the Senator Theatre.

Foreclosure auction for Senator Theatre canceled
City working to acquire landmark

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/news/bal-senator-theatre-0414,0,4380909.story

By Chris Kaltenbach | chris.kaltenbach@baltsun.com
2:07 PM EDT, April 14, 2009

Monday's scheduled foreclosure auction of the Senator Theatre has been
canceled, as city officials work on plans to acquire the 70-year-old
North Baltimore landmark.

C. Larry Hofmeister, an attorney representing mortgage holder 1st
Mariner Bank, said there are no plans to reschedule the auction at this
time.

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon announced Saturday that the city, which is
the guarantor on $600,000 of the Senator's $950,000 mortgage, would seek
to purchase the mortgage from 1st Mariner. Provided no one steps forward
willing to pay off the full amount of the mortgage, the proposal calls
for the city to then find someone to operate the theater, preferably as
a community-based arts and education center, likely to include movie
screenings as well as concerts and other events.

The proposal would have to be approved by the city's Board of Estimates,
a process that could take 30 to 60 days, Deputy Mayor Andrew Frank said.
Plans call for the city to put together an advisory group, including
neighborhood residents and other interested parties, to recommend uses
for the theater.

Tuesday, the city's Committee for Architectural and Historic
Preservation canceled a public hearing on a proposal to place the
Senator's interior on a "special list" of protected building interiors.
C.H.A.P. executive director Kathleen Kotarba said the group would be
meeting Monday in closed session with City Solicitor George A. Nilson to
go over unspecified details of the proposal. The closed session would
involve discussion of "technical matters related to the procedure," she
said. The hearing, she added, would "definitely be rescheduled."

Outgoing Senator owner Tom Kiefaber has been critical of the proposed
landmark designation, saying whoever owns the building needs to be able
to adapt the interior in response to changes in movie exhibition
technology and audience attendance patterns.

He also has said such an interior designation, which would be a first
for C.H.A.P., would lessen the value of the Senator because it would
limit what a prospective buyer could do to the inside of the building.
He has said the proposal scared away a potential investor in the theater
shortly before it stopped showing first-run movies March 15.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/news/bal-senator-theatre-0414,0,4380909.story

Copyright © 2009, The Baltimore Sun

So the bottom line is no more movies (preferably first run) will be shown until......?

Last weekend "Stop Making Sense"
rocked The Senator!

It's The Same as it Ever Was!

This Friday, April 17th & Saturday, April 18th it's
Back By Popular Demand For Encore Presentations
Friday & Saturday only at 9:00pm.

Relive The Senator's legendary 1984 engagement on
the big screen, cranked up with state-of-the-art sound!

A Jonathan Demme Film

(1984)

"One of the greatest rock movies ever made."
Leonard Maltin

"Recession Buster" Admission is $5
Stay over for "Secret World Live" at no extra cost.

An innovative concert movie for the rock group The Talking Heads.

* * *

Starts Friday, April 17th @ The Senator
Friday & Saturday 10:30pm

A Francois Girard Film
Peter Gabriel
Secret World Live
(1994)

Featuring:
Come Talk to Me | Steam | Across the River | Slow Marimbas
Shaking the Tree | Blood of Eden | San Jacinto | Red Raid
Kiss That Frog | Washing of the Water | Solsbury Hill
Digging in the Dirt | Sledgehammer | Big Time
Secret World | Don't Give Up | In Your Eyes

"Recession Buster" Admission is $5

* * *

Saturday, April 18th & Sunday, April 19th
@ The Senator Theatre

The Senator Theatre
& The Belvedere Improvement Association
Present
The 14th Annual
Belvedere SpringFest
An Earth Day Celebration

Featuring
BARAKA
(90min)

BARAKA (an ancient Sufi word for the essence of life) took filmmakers
to 24 countries on a worldwide 14 month odyssey capturing breathtaking
images to tell the story of earth's evolution, human culture
diversity,
and humankind's ecological impact on the earth. BARAKA is a
stunning visual and auditory masterpiece when presented on
the big screen at "Baltimore's Premiere Showplace."

Admission is FREE
(Donations appreciated)

12:00 - 1:00pm (SATURDAY ONLY) :
We're "Drumming up Support" for The Senator with a one-hour drum jam.
(Bring your own drums and shakers, or use ours!)

1:00 - 2:45pm (SATURDAY & SUNDAY):
BARAKA showtime for Saturday & Sunday is 1:00pm.

* * *
Monterey Pop
Saturday & Sunday only at 2:45pm

Filmed at the Monterey International Pop Festival

A D.A. Pennebaker Film
(1968)

Performances by:
Scott McKenzie, The Mamas & The Papas, Canned Heat,
Simon & Garfunkel, Hugh Masekela, Jefferson Airplane, The Who,
Big Brother & The Holding Company, Country Joe & The Fish,
Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Ravi Shankar & Janis Joplin

"Recession Buster" Admission is $5
Stay over to see "HELP!" at no extra cost

A documentary of the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, focusing on the
audience as
well as performances by such artists as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin &
The Who.

* * *
HELP!
Stop worrying! HELP! is on the way!

Saturday & Sunday only at 4:15pm

A Richard Lester Film
(1965)

Featuring: The Beatles

"Recession Buster" Admission is $5

~

they aint first run, but wow, what a selection of movies! Anyone know if 'Baraka' will be 35mm or 70mm?

There's also IB Technicolor showings of Charade.

The Senator is now showing 1937 A Star is Born and other classic films including Night of the Living Dead (Romero) and Help!

Classics continue with original Technicolor 35 mm print of "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" the Beatles "Yellow Submarine" and "Horror Hotel" (Christopher Lee)

Various classics continue including "Stagecoach" from 1939, the year the Senator came into being.

Classic screenings continue with "The Third Man (1949) " "P.U.L.S.E" and "Yellow Submarine" $5 admission for each show.

List of Baltimore Theaters that have closed
As of 2009

Baltimore, MD Aero Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Aldine Theatre 3310 E Baltimore St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Ambassador Theatre 4604 Liberty Heights Ave (CLOSED) CHURCH
Baltimore, MD Anthony Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Apollo Theatre 1500 Harford Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Arcade Theatre 5436 Harford Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Art Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Astor Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Auditorium Theatre 516 N Howard St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Aurora Theatre 7 E North Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Avalon Theatre 4300 Hamilton Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Avenue Theatre Milton Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Avenue Theatre 1401 N Milton Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Avon Theatre 3019 Hamilton Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Baltimore Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Belnord Theatre 2700 Pulaski Hwy (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Biddle Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Blue Mouse Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Booker T Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Boulevard Theatre 3302 Greenmount Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Bridge Theatre 2100 Edmondson Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Broadway Theatre 509 S Broadway (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Brodie Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Brooklyn Theatre 3730 S Hanover St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Cameo Theatre 4707 Harford Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Capitol Theatre 1518 W Baltimore St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Capri Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Carey Theatre 1422 N Carey St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Carlins Drive-In Theatre Druid Park Dr (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Carlton Theatre Dundalk Ave & German Hill Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Carrollwood I & II (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Casino Theatre 1118 Light St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Centre Theatre 10 E North Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Century Theatre 18 W Lexington St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Cinema Theatre 910 W North Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Clover Theatre 414 E Baltimore St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Cluster Theatre 303 S Broadway (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Colony Theatre 8123 Harford Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Columbia Theatre 709 Washington (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Crest Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Dainty Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD De Luxe Theatre 1318 E Fort Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Diane Theatre 1429 Pennsylvania Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Dixie Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Dunbar Theatre 619 N Central Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Echo Theatre 124 E Fort Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Eden Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Edgewood Theatre 3500 Edmondson Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Edmondson Village Theatre 4428 Edmondson Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Encore Theatre 4801 Liberty Heights Ave
Baltimore, MD Eureka Theatre 404 S Tremont Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Europa Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Forest Theatre 3300 Garrison Blvd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Fort Holabird Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Franklyn Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Fremont Theatre 504 N Fremont Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Fulton Theatre 1563 N Fulton Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Garden Theatre Light St & Cross St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Garden Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Globe Theatre 412 E Baltimore St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Goldfield Theatre 924 S Sharp St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Grand Theatre 509 S Conkling St (CLOSED) DEMOLISHED / TORN DOWN
Baltimore, MD Greenspring Cinema 2835A Smith Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Gwynn Theatre 4607 Liberty Heights Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Hampden Theatre 911 W 36th St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Harford Theatre 2618 Harford Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Harlem Theatre 616 N Gilmor St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Harley Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Highland Theatre 3829 Eastern Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Hill Theatre 608 Cherry Hill Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Hillendale Cinema 1045 Taylor Ave
Baltimore, MD Hilton Theatre 3117 W North Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Homewood Theatre 9 W 25th St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Horn Theatre 2016 W Pratt St (CLOSED) (CHURCH)
Baltimore, MD Howard Theatre 115 N Howard St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Ideal Theatre 903 W 36th St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Idle Hour Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Irvington Theatre 4113 Frederick Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Jean Theatre 913 Warner St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Lafayette Theatre 1422 W Lafayette Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Laff Theatre 31 W Lexington St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Leader Theatre 248 S Broadway (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Lenox Theatre 2155 Pennsylvania Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Lexway Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Liberty Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Lincoln Theatre 936 Pennsylvania Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Lincoln Theatre 2912 Lightfoot Dr (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Linden Theatre 910 W North Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Linwood Theatre 902 S Linwood Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Little Theatre 523 N Howard St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Lord Baltimore Theatre 1114 W Baltimore St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Lord Calvert Theatre 2444 Washington Blvd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Lovegrove Alley Theatre 1211 Lovegrove St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Madison Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Main Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Maryland Theatre 320 W Franklin (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Mascot Theatre 2431 Greenmount Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Mayfair Theatre 508 N Howard St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD McHenry Theatre 1032 Light St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Metro Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Metropolitan Theatre 1524 W North Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Monroe Theatre 1924 W Pratt St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Morgan Theatre 2426 Pennsylvania Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Morrell Park Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Movies 9 at the Golden Ring 6400 Rossville Blvd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Movies at Harbor Park 55 Market Pl (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Nemo Theatre 4815 Eastern Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD New Albert Theatre 1230 Pennsylvania Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD New Theatre 210 W Lexington (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD North Point Drive-In Theatre 4001 N Point Blvd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD North Point Plaza 4 Theaters 2399 N Point Blvd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Northway Theatre 6701 Harford Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Northwood Theatre 1572 Havenwood Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Nowosci Theatre 510 S Broadway (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Open-Air Theatre Governor Ritchie Hwy (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Orpheum Theatre 1726 Thames St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Palace Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Paramount Theatre 6650 Belair Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Park Theatre 1105 N Broadway (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Parkway Theatre 5 W North Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Pastime Theatre 2026 Greenmount Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Patapsco Theatre 603 Patapsco Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Patterson Theatre 3136 Eastern Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Pennington Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Perring Plaza Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Perry Hall Movies 8740 Belair Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Pic Theatre 756 Washington (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Pikes Village Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Pimlico Theatre 5132 Park Heights Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Plaza Theatre 1105 N Broadway (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Popular Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Preston Theatre 1108 E Preston St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Pumpkin Theatre 6229 N Charles St
Baltimore, MD Queen Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Radio Theatre 629 N Eden St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Realart Theatre 719 W Baltimore St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Red Wing Theatre 2239 E Monument St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Regal Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Regent Theatre 1627 Pennsylvania Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Reisterstown Plaza 5 6774 Reisterstown Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Rex Theatre 4617 York Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Rialto Theatre 846 W North Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Rio Theatre 1520 E Monument St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Ritz Theatre 1607 N Washington St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Rivoli Theatre 418 E Baltimore St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Roosevelt Theatre 512 W Biddle St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Roslyn Theatre 850 N Howard St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Roxy Theatre 2239 E Fayette St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Roy Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Schanze Theatre 2426 Pennsylvania Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Shriver Hall Theatre 3400 N Charles St
Baltimore, MD Stanley Theatre 516 N Howard St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Star Theatre 1529 E Monument St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD State Theatre 2045 E Monument St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Strand Theatre 404 N Howard (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Sunset Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Superba Theatre 906 Washington Blvd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Tower Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Town Theatre 315 W Franklin St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD University of Maryland Theatre 5401 Wilkens Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Uptown Theatre 5010 Park Heights Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Valencia Theatre 18 W Lexington St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Valley Drive-In Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Victoria Theatre 415 E Baltimore (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Victory Theatre 1017 Patapsco St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Vilma Theatre 3404 Belair Rd (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Vogue Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Walbrook Theatre 3100 W North Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Waverly Theatre 3211 Greenmount Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD West End Theatre 1603 W Baltimore St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Westport Theatre 2305 Russell St (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Westway Theatre 5300 Edmondson Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Windsor Theatre 3113 W North Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Wizard Theatre (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD York Road Cinema I & II (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD York Theatre 2026 Greenmount Ave (CLOSED)
Baltimore, MD Yorkridge 1-4 (CLOSED)

wow, that's a really depressing list

The Senator is going up for auction on July 21, 2009, and word on the street is that it's probably going to become a church. There have been inquiries from churches about buying it, and this has happened to many historic theatres.

Senator owner Tom Kiefaber says:

"In the past few months a convoluted series of announcements and actions by the city has The Senator Theatre hurtling towards a precarious public auction on 7/21, where many have predicted that it will be sold to a religious non-profit organization. It’s a unacceptable scenario that should be seen for what it is and averted like a head on collision. The latest public assurances by Ms. Clarke and Councilman Henry that the city can still control the outcome of The Senator’s public auction, by threatening to sever the historic theatre from its critical long-term parking easement, ring hollow. They are increasingly unrealistic assurances that can be thwarted in a number of ways by a church entity with a winning bid at auction.

The time has arrived for all who have a vested interest in The Senator’s potentially glorious second act, to get involved through their political representatives. It’s imperative that the process gets back on track in order to avert a potential impending disaster that may have a severe and lasting negative impact on the Belvedere Square commercial district and the extended North Baltimore communities that surround it."

http://blogs.mddailyrecord.com/ontherecord/2009/06/05/the-senator-theatrecongregational-church/

A couple of blogs are regularly covering what's happening at The Senator:

www.astrogirlguides.com
friendsofthesenatortheatre.wordpress.com

This weekend, there's a Grateful Dead cover band/classic rock concert on Saturday night at 8 P.M. "One More Saturday Night."

Baltimore's Senator Theatre goes to auction on July 22, 2009 at 11:00 am.

(Most of this information courtesy of Laura, thx -- see last post, above) ...

• Laura's blog
http://www.astrogirlguides.com

• Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=96225184287

• MdDailyRecord (Baltimore legal news)
http://blogs.mddailyrecord.com/ontherecord/2009/06/05/the-senator-theatrecongregational-church

Obviously, friends in Baltimore and elsewhere hope that the theatre is acquired by someone who can appreciate it and keep it intact for future generations.

Poor Senator. The City of Baltimore now owns it.

According to reports in the Baltimore Sun today, there was one anonymous bid of $800,000 and the City then offered an extra $10,000.

The full story is well worth a read, a lot of drama.

Baltimore Sun story is at

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.ci.senator23jul23,0,326887.story

The City of Baltimore will DO NOTHING PRODUCTIVE WITH THE SENATOR! They will sit and spin for MONTHS AND MONTHS! In that time the theater will slowly begin to become run down and shabby.

Even things were attempted they HAVE NO IDEA how to RUN A THEATRE!

Without Tom K at the helm the Senator is doomed!

Tom went above and beyond in trying to keep the Senator afloat. I doubt that the City ownership will lead to much.

As an aside, my son's band, JD and The Blades, were one of the three bands that closed the theater a few weeks ago.

Baltimore Sun editorial following Senator Theatre auction

No Hollywood ending
Our view: The city must set limits on its commitment to the Senator Theatre

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.senator24jul24,0,1342089.story

July 24, 2009
Quantcast

In the Hollywood version of Wednesday's auction of the Senator Theatre, the auctioneer would have intoned, "Going once, going twice," and right there, in the pregnant pause before he lowered the gavel to the podium and consigned the historic Art Deco movie house to the wrecking ball, a sudden outpouring of community support would have materialized, It's a Wonderful Life-style, to bail out the plucky owner and hero of our story, Tom Kiefaber. Or maybe in a slightly more realistic version, the theater would have been bought by a mysterious bidder who turned out to be a rich, eccentric movie buff and promised to keep the place going. (And let Mr. Kiefaber run the projector and make his little speeches before the show starts.)

What we got instead was a confusing mess. One bid came in at $800,000, about $150,000 less than the city had paid for the Senator's mortgage earlier this year. City officials huddled and, according to First Deputy Mayor Andrew B. Frank, decided to bid $810,000 to retain control of the theater rather than allow it to go to the anonymous bidder, who might not have shared the city's goals for the Senator. Now, Mr. Frank says, the city intends to issue a request for proposals with the goal of selling the theater to a nonprofit or businessperson who would run it in a way that fits with Baltimore's hopes for Belvedere Square.

Why exactly the city thinks there might be more interest in the theater in an RFP process than in the auction is unclear. Two local businessmen with great success in the entertainment field, developer David Cordish and Charles Theatre owner James "Buzz" Cusack have both expressed interest in the Senator but did not bid. Mr. Cusack says the theater would have had to be "unreasonably cheaper" for it to be financially viable. Both he and Mr. Cordish have talked about adding a restaurant or other amenities to make the single-screen model workable, and that doesn't count the other renovations that would be necessary to get the theater up to snuff. The roof leaks, and the seats are long overdue for a replacement. (Mr. Cusack says seats run $150 to $200 apiece, a big chunk of change for a 900-seat theater.)

What that means is the city's hope to recoup its investment is wildly unrealistic, at least in the short term. Mayor Sheila Dixon's administration portrayed the auction results as a positive development, but they really just proved that the city bought the theater for a lot more than it's worth at a time when Baltimore is facing severe budget trouble.

The mayor needs to move quickly to create the "wide-open, transparent process" for finding a new operator that her administration promised. Baltimore needs to find someone with Mr. Kiefaber's passion, but with better luck, deeper pockets and, perhaps, more business acumen. What it does not need is someone who assumes Baltimore will bail him out if times get tough.

There is no doubt that Belvedere Square is a stronger, more vibrant community with the Senator than without, and some level of public investment could pay off in the long run in terms of increased business activity and taxes. But the mayor needs to engage the community in an honest dialogue so it can decide how big of an investment it's willing to make.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.senator24jul24,0,1342089.story
Copyright © 2009, The Baltimore Sun

It is OUTRAGEOUS that the city of Baltimore would pay $810,000 for the Senator, OUTBIDDING someone who most likely would have made much better use of the theatre(letting Tom K Run it and program the films)

What will the city do in its cash strapped state? LET THE THEATRE ROT OR give it to a developer who will tear it down for a BANK OR CONDOS!!

Recap of Senator Theatre auction

Nice article by Larry Perl / Baltimore Messenger posted today:
http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/crime/100761/last-hours-senator-theatre-first-life/

It gives a good sense of various parties in Baltimore considering a workable future for the theatre. Names several names, with a slideshow of recent photos.

New SenatorTheatre open discussion group...
http://groups.google.com/group/SenatorTheatre

Google Groups kindly offers 4 levels of email delivery, including none at all (read-web-only :) ... All are invited. Please spread the word!

Maryland Historical Society: the Durkee Theatre Collection (1922-1965)

This link refers to dozens of Baltimore movie houses...

http://MdHS.org/library/pp134.html

... Durkee Enterprises was one of the oldest and largest movie
circuits in Baltimore. Frank H. Durkee began his movie empire as a
young man around 1908/1909 when he went from hall to hall carrying his
movie equipment strapped to his back. Durkee was born in Baltimore on 20 August 1888, and died on 24 October 1955. He graduated from
Baltimore City College in 1906, and attended the University of
Maryland Law School. In his youth, he sang between movies and in
church choirs. He was president of the Baltimore City Park Board from 1938 to 1945. Durkee's first movie house was the PARADISE in a two-story house on the corner of Washington and Federal Streets...

Question about 'duplexing' historic theatres?
Anyone, please -

Are there good examples (or not) of historic theatres that were split, with the intention of restoring the historic interior years later? Have walls been built with sensitivity to the architecture, to be removed in accordance with long-term plans? What are some of these cinemas, and how did they make out?

For example, we're hearing that the AFI Silver Theatre was dark for 15 years before its stunning restoration. Suppose there had been some interim arrangement, to keep the theatre alive during its dark ages?

Richard the link that you poste4d in your comments on August 31, 2009 is a broken link.

Try all lowercase?

http://www.mdhs.org/library/pp134.html

The link to the Maryland Historical Society works for me.

Baltimore seeks new buyer.
http://www.mddailyrecord.com/article.cfm?id=13432&type=UTTM
Let's hope the current owner can find a way.

Developers' 'Pre-Proposal Conference' in Baltimore Oct 5

It's the 70th birthday of the Senator Theatre and
the Baltimore Development Corporation is hosting
a 'Pre-Proposal Conference' issuing its RFP for
preservation and operation of Baltimore's art deco
landmark. Movies are still being shown regularly.

If you would like to attend next Monday's conference
at the theatre, please contact the BDC before Friday,
Oct 2. All interested can download the complete RFP
(Request For Proposals) from the BDC website (or
reply to me for a copy of the PDF version).

According to the RFP, a Pre-Proposal conference
is scheduled for Monday, October 5, 2009 at 10 am.

From the RFP...
___________________________

VIII. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Issue Date: September 21, 2009
Date for obtaining RFP: September 21, 2009
RSVP due for Pre-Proposal Conference: October 2, 2009
Pre-Proposal Conference: October 5, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (at the Senator
Theatre)
Due date for all written questions: October 6, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
BDC response to Pre-Proposal Conference and written questions: October
13, 2009
Proposals Due: November 20, 2009
Developer Oral Presentations to Advisory Panel: December 2009
Anticipated Announcement of Selection: February 2010

Please note above dates and times are subject to change.
___________________________

To attend the Oct 5 conference, please contact before Oct 2:

Kristen Mitchell
BDC Senior Economic Development Officer
410-837-9305
___________________________

• The Senator Theatre
http://www.Senator.com

• Friends of the Senator Theatre (blog)
http://friendsofthesenatortheatre.wordpress.com

• BDC's Request For Proposals
http://www.baltimoredevelopment.com/proposals.aspx

• The Senator Theatre Group (open discussion)
http://groups.google.com/group/SenatorTheatre

Thank you,
Richard Ellsberry
co-moderator
The Senator Theatre Group
Group@SenatorTheatre.org
www.SenatorTheatre.org

Today is the 70th birthday of Baltimore's Senator Theatre!

Baltimore City and the Baltimore Development Corporation are holding a 'Pre-Proposal Conference' today at the theatre for potential developers and operators (see my recent post, above).

Shows and events are scheduled thru October. Details on the Senator's commercial site: www.Senator.com

I'm working with a small online forum called the Senator Theatre Group (STG). There are other support groups for the Senator Theatre, on Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere.

Anyone can join our conversation: http://groups.google.com/group/SenatorTheatre
www.SenatorTheatre.org

Today is the 70th birthday of Baltimore's Senator Theatre!

Baltimore City and the Baltimore Development Corporation are holding a 'Pre-Proposal Conference' today at the theatre for potential developers and operators (see my recent post, above).

Shows and events are scheduled thru October. Details on the Senator's commercial site: www.Senator.com

I'm working with a small online forum called the Senator Theatre Group (STG). There are other support groups for the Senator Theatre, on Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere.

Anyone can join our conversation: http://groups.google.com/group/SenatorTheatre
www.SenatorTheatre.org

Happy birthday Senator - Times are hard for you just now but this cinema is far too important to be lost and my best wishes to all working to keep it alive.

Happy Birthday indeed! For an old girl, you look remarkably well!

If it was fully renovated & updated as recently as 1999, it should be able to be kind of a turn key operation to start running films again. The official website at the top of this page still shows it owned by the same owners as the Rotunda Theatres.
Who are adverstising all first run at their other theaters on the same site.

If they still don't own it, Why not rent it back to them for a low fee and show some of those first run films there also? It would keep it open and in the public eye. And also make it appear more viable to any investors who might be willing to take a chance on it.

Sitting empty (or filmless) just adds to the stigma. The only upside is it appears they still are doing open mic events with bands etc. If that information is as current as the other half of the page on their website.